Shloka 30

Matsya Purana — Maya’s War-Counsel to the Danavas and the Moonlit Revels in Tripura

Devanagari script

गोशीर्षयुक्तैर्हरिचन्दनैश्च पङ्काङ्किताक्षी च वरासुरीणाम् मनोज्ञरूपा रुचिरा बभूवुः पूर्णामृतस्येव सुवर्णकुम्भाः //

Transliteration

gośīrṣayuktairharicandanaiśca paṅkāṅkitākṣī ca varāsurīṇām manojñarūpā rucirā babhūvuḥ pūrṇāmṛtasyeva suvarṇakumbhāḥ //

Translation

Smeared with gośīrṣa and yellow sandalwood paste, and with their eyes darkened by collyrium, those foremost of women appeared exquisitely charming and radiant—like golden jars filled with amṛta, the nectar of immortality.

Word by Word

• gośīrṣa-yuktaiḥ: mixed with gośīrṣa (a prized fragrant paste/sandal preparation)

• hari-candanaiḥ: with yellow sandalwood

• ca: and

• paṅka-aṅkita-akṣī: having eyes marked/darkened with paṅka (cosmetic pigment/collyrium)

• ca: and

• vara-asurīṇām: of the excellent women (lit. ‘best among asurī-s’

• manojña-rūpāḥ: of pleasing/attractive form

• rucirāḥ: radiant, splendid

• babhūvuḥ: became/appeared

• pūrṇa-amṛtasya: filled with nectar

• iva: like

• suvarṇa-kumbhāḥ: golden jars/pitchers.

Speaker

• Sūta (narrating the Matsya Purana’s account; descriptive passage within the iconography/ritual-material context)

Tags

• Iconography
• Ritual cosmetics
• Sacred fragrances
• Auspicious materials
• Matsya Purana aesthetics

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it focuses on auspicious adornment—fragrant sandal pastes and eye cosmetics—used to enhance radiance, a theme aligned with ritual aesthetics rather than cosmic dissolution.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

Indirectly, it supports the householder and royal duty of maintaining śauca (refined cleanliness) and proper observances in worship and ceremony—using approved, auspicious substances to honor deities and uphold cultured dharma in public and domestic rites.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it highlights sanctioned sacred materials (gośīrṣa, haricandana, eye adornment) associated with auspiciousness and beauty—substances commonly integrated into pūjā, festival decoration, and icon/participant ornamentation in temple practice.